HTA Spring 2014
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A Quarterly Publication of FRIENDS OF HILLTOP ARBORETUM Volume 22 Number 1 – Spring 2014 Spring Garden Tour ~ Flora after the Freeze Garden spaces in River Bend, University Lakes, and Hundred Oaks I t is certain after our winter deep freeze almost all gardens in the Baton Rouge area have been af- fected. What was not certain was the fate of the 2014 Hilltop Spring Garden Tours. Several brave and dedicated gardeners stepped up to the plate so that we can offer you one spring tour on Sunday, May 18, 2014. As you can imagine it has taken a leap of faith for our garden hosts to remain on the tour. We hope you will save the date and come out in support of these passionate gardeners who are working so hard to prepare their gardens for viewing this year. The tour will feature eclectic gardens in the River Bend, University Lakes, and Hun- dred Oaks areas including a backyard fern oasis with outdoor art, a woodland garden with a meandering rock lined stream and a camellia collection, a whimsical garden with lots of surprises that will lift your spirits, an extraordinary landscape designer's (Continued on page 7) Every Tree Tells a Story Signboard Exhibition hrough a program called Landslide, The The exhibit highlights the history, threat, and T Cultural Landscape Foundation (TCLF) ways to become involved with 12 trees and tree draws immediate and lasting attention to threat- collections across the country and in Puerto ened landscapes and unique features. Landslide Rico. These horticultural specimens, many under both highlights and monitors at-risk landscapes threat, range from a two-century old tulip poplar and annual thematic listings to save this heritage in Washington D. C., threatened tree canopy cre- for future generations. In conjunction with the ated by over 6,000 Frederick Law Olmsted era 2010 Landslide selections: "Every Tree Tells a heritage trees in Louisville, Kentucky, to the Story," Hilltop is hosting the outdoor signboard hundreds of pine trees in wooded Weymouth exhibit in the "Cathedral" area of the Arboretum Heights Subdivision in North Carolina with carv- through April, 30, 2014. ings known as "boxes" made by former slaves. They stand as living reminders of our country's past and have the potential to witness future gen- erations. Visit www.lsu.edu/hilltop for additional information about the 12 trees and tree collec- tions on display. The exhibition has been made possible by gener- ous support from Presenting Sponsor, The Davey Tree Expert Company, and with additional sup- port from Garden Design, American Photo, American Forests, Joseph & Sylvia Slifka Foun- dation and Susan Turner & Scott Purdin. HILLTOP 2 LSU HILLTOP ARBORETUM FROM THE DESK OF THE PRESIDENT Greetings! I would like to start by thanking John Murrill for his very successful tenure as our board president. It will be a daunting task to follow him! During his four years of service, John was instrumental in bringing the Imogene Newsom Brown Education Facility, Beverly Brown Coates Auditorium, Bert Turner Courtyard and Eve Perry Watson Cis- tern to completion. These additions have already become very important parts of the Hilltop Arboretum legacy. Dr. Neil Odenwald and Van Cox have completed a very successful garden design course utilizing the new education facility! As the new president, I have felt the need to better understand Hilltop. I have reviewed the history, mission and vision as we think about the future of Hilltop. I started with reading Emory Smith's book "Hilltop My Story" with illustrations of native plants by June Gonce. Emory and I both grew up in the Midwest alongside the Rock Island Railroad! It is remark- able that he had the vision to preserve the site he purchased in 1929. He donated Hilltop to LSU in 1981 to allow the site to be an outdoor workshop for all to understand our native plants and landscape design. We held a board retreat in February to update all on the current status of Hilltop and to look toward future development. It has been helpful to visit with those who knew Emory. Many of his friends have shared their stories and insights with me. One in particular was Julia Haw- kins who collected plants with Emory, proofread his book, and helped her husband, Dr. Murray Hawkins, when he served as our first Friends president. Julia celebrated her 98th birthday at the new education facility in February! Nanjing Cypress trees were donated to Hill- top by Dave Morgan, and were planted in Dr. Hawkins memory on site. We will be working with landscape architects Reed Hilderbrand to map out the next phase of development of the Miss Julia site over the next four months. We all should spend more time exploring the site. The native spring ephemerals are beautiful this spring. Paul Orr notes the site changes almost daily this time of year. What we learn here makes us better shepherds of our environment. A win- ter like this past one emphasizes the importance of our native plants. Our spring garden tour will be held on Sunday, May 18th from 1-5pm. I would like to thank Carol and Pete Newton, Dr. Joel Podolsky, Denise Van Schoyck and Terry Tuminello, Patrice and Richard Ellis, and Mary Johnson for sharing their gardens with us after the difficult winter. You should not miss their fantastic and varied gardens. I would also like to thank our retiring board members. Sidney Coffee served on the Garden Tour Committee, and shared her garden with us on a tour. Dyke Nelson served as a member of the Building Committee, and was instrumental in shep- herding the construction of the new building along. Mary Tharp served as a member of the Garden Tour Committee, Jun- ior Master Gardener Committee as well as teaching at countless camps over the years, and board Secretary for 2013. Mary will continue to participate in the Garden Tour and Junior Master Gardener Committees. Randy Harelson was the Sympo- sium Committee Chairman, served on both the PlantFest and Site Committees, organized a garden trip to New Roads, and even participated as a teacher in the Hilltop Summer Academy. We welcome our newest board member Chris Werner. Chris has recently re- tired. He was a member of the board at an earlier time, and a garden tour host many times. Chris and his wife Sharon sponsored nu- merous dinners for our symposium speakers. Please remember to share your knowledge of Hilltop with your friends and neighbors. There is so much that can be learned here. See you at Hilltop! Terry Rehn LSU HILLTOP ARBORETUM 3 Ribbon Cutting and Open House o n Thursday, October 17, 2013 the LSU Hilltop Arboretum held a ribbon cutting and open house cele- bration for the $1.42 million expansion project recently completed by Lincoln Builders of Baton Rouge. The Imogene Newsom Brown Education Facility will be the first LSU building to be registered with the U. S. Green Building Council for possible Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design [LEED] certification. It will play host to educational and fundraising events and will be the final piece of a 1999 build- ing plan that includes the existing administrative building, library and open-air pavilion designed by award-winning Lake Flato Architects of San Antonio, Texas. The Bert Turner Courtyard designed by Nelson Byrd Woltz Landscape Archi- tects of New York will anchor the education facility including the Beverly Brown Coates Auditorium to the existing open-air pavilion. The courtyard will provide an important demonstration for best-practices for developing outdoor living space that extends the indoor space into the landscape, and works in concert with natural systems to utilize water and plant resources in a sustainable way. The 2,050 square foot auditorium with a warming kitchen, more than doubles the existing capacity for activities. The Friends of the LSU Hilltop Arboretum raised all funds for the expansion project through private donations. We are so grateful to over 200 donors that made this project possible. The ribbon cutting and open house commenced after a brief program at 6pm that featured remarks by John Murrill (President, Friends of Hilltop Arboretum), Ted Flato (Principal, Lake Flato Architects), Stuart Bell Ph.D. (Executive Vice chancellor and Provost, LSU), Alkis Tsolakis (Dean, LSU College of Art and De- sign), Bradley Cantrell (Director, LSU Robert Reich School of Landscape Archi- tecture), and Peggy Davis Coates (Director, LSU Hilltop Arboretum). Entertaining at Hilltop We are so excited you are considering the LSU Hilltop Arboretum for a small gathering, corporate event, family party or wedding! Our award-winning facility designed by Lake|Flato Architects of San Antonio, Texas include beautiful views of nature and a pond with an elevated wooden boardwalk surrounded by Louisiana aquatic plantings. The complex includes: • Cherry Owens Library — a small meeting room • Margaret Holmes Brown Pavilion — a covered open- air space • Beverly Brown Coates Auditorium — a climate- controlled, multi-purpose space • Bert Turner Courtyard – a gathering space, connect- ing the pavilion to the auditorium event. Our Event Coordinator, Paula Dillemuth can an- We invite you to review the Facility Rental Information, swer any questions you may have about Hilltop's facility Policies and Registration Form and the Facility Layout and can assist you with planning your event and com- Plan online at www.lsu.edu/hilltop to determine if Hill- pleting your registration forms. To schedule an appoint- top is a venue you would like to consider for your special ment with us call 225-767-6916 or email [email protected] 4 LSU HILLTOP ARBORETUM Youth Camps: Register for Spring and Summer ~ Space Limited! JUNIOR MASTER JMG Summer Camp This year we welcome back camp di- June 16 – 20, 9am – 1pm rector Cindy Lou Who Peterson and GARDENER 7-10 year olds her assistant camp counselor Cassan- We say bloom where you are planted For 5 Days: dra (Miss C) Fullmer.